Verdant IMAP has advised a leading UK private equity firm on the sale of Awash Wines SC, a leading Ethiopian wine producer, to a strategic investor consortium. The sale represented an 89% interest in Awash Wines SC. Founded in 1936, Awash Wines is one of the oldest and most established wine producers in Ethiopia, known for its range of quality wines, including the popular Axumit, Gouder, and Awash brands. The company has a rich history and has been instrumental in shaping the Ethiopian wine industry. The transaction reinforces Verdant IMAP’s position as a leading advisor to private equity clients in […]
This October, Verdant is excited to host our exclusive Verdant-in-London event, running concurrently with the AFSIC conference from the 7th to the 9th of October. Building on the success of our inaugural 2023 event, Verdant-in-London provides a unique opportunity for investors and clients of Verdant to engage in focused one-on-one meetings designed to foster meaningful connections and drive impactful investments. Over three days, participants will have the opportunity to meet with our clients from microfinance banks, innovative credit businesses, fintechs and other businesses currently raising debt or equity through Verdant. These meetings are designed to be highly focused, ensuring that both investors […]
The Prudential Authority (PA) is actively considering introducing additional tiers within South Africa’s commercial banking licensing framework. This initiative aims to lower entry barriers for smaller banks, promoting competition while safeguarding the stability of the financial system. Such a shift is essential not only for increasing competition but also for advancing financial inclusion and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the backbone of South Africa’s economy. Historically, South Africa’s banking sector has been dominated by a handful of large institutions, with few new entrants since the early 2000s. However, there has been a recent resurgence in interest in […]
Verdant has raised ZAR 40 million for Us Plus Limited (“UsPlus”) as a senior unsecured note through UsPlus’ JSE-listed social bond. The investment comes from an Africa-focused fund headquartered in Europe and was matched by an equal investment through local funding on the JSE making ZAR 80 million in total through the bond issuance. Furthermore, in parallel UsPlus drew down ZAR 60 million for a bilateral facility previously arranged by Verdant, making a total of ZAR 140 million of new funding this quarter (approx. USD 7 million). This substantial funding injection increases the total capital raised for the business by […]
Verdant IMAP has advised Germany-based DEKRA SE on the sale of DEKRA Automotive (“DEKRA”), the largest independent vehicle testing group in South Africa. South Africa-based DEKRA specialises in legislated automotive roadworthy testing through its vehicle inspection and testing stations nationwide and also provides other non-regulated inspection services such as certification services, condition reports and technical inspection checks. DEKRA SE, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany with operations in 60 countries, completed over 31 million vehicle tests in 2023. The transaction attracted strong interest from private equity and strategic buyers alike. The transaction reinforces Verdant IMAP’s position as a leading advisor in the […]
